Pusher



Patented Feb. 27, 1945 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,370,368 4-PUSHER Stoddard B. Martn, Lakewood, yOhio Application Augustll, 1941, Serial,No.406,268

1s Claims.

stock and repeat the cycle lof operation. 'Ihe stock is ordinarily 'fed forward by a pusher carried by a reciprocating pusher tube arranged between and coaxial with the collet-tube andr bar of stock.

In the conventional machine .the pusher is simply a spring bushing exerting a constant grip on th'e bar stock which is moved forwardly after the collet opens until the forwardfend of the bar strikes a stock gauge. The collet then grips the bar and the pusher is retracted: One of the disadvantages of this arrangement is that when the pusher is given ay sufliciently tight grip on the bar to insure accurate feeding and vprevent rebounding when the bar strikes the gauge, there is danger ofvscratching or scoring the stock when the pusher is retracted. Another rdisadvantage of suchvan arrangement is that the pusher exerts a constant grip'on the bar stock during both the feeding and return strokes so that'the gripping surfaces of the pusher are rapidly worn out by the friction of the return strokes.

To avoid these disadvantages it has been proposed to provide one way grippers which by a wedging or similar action grip the bar tightly o n the forward feeding stroke and release it, or grip it but lightly, on the return stroke. Pushe-rs of this type are disclose-d in my prior Patents Nos. 2,088,067, 2,169,107, 2,187,089 and 2,187,090, and in my co-pending applications Serial No. 387,476, iiled April 8, 1941, -now Patent No. 2,323,067, issued June 29, 1943, and ySerial No. 390,601, led April 26, 1941.

It has also been proposed yto construct 'such pushers as master pushers. 'The grippingsurfaces that engage Vthe stock are provided with a bushing removable from the pusher shell, so that a bushing with the desired sized opening may be positioned' in the shell ofthe pusher to vaccommodate any particular Asize of stock `Without substituting an entire `pusher or feeding Yfinger as has been customary Ain conventional Vmachines. Such master .pushers are of but limited `utility unless the .construction is sufficiently compact and simple .to :permit :the `sameto be used to yfeedstock :of the maximum capacitynf the machine, J-inaddition tolsmaller.` sizes of fstock..

`One-01 the `cliiiiculties heretofore encountered in connection Withmaster pushershamingaoneway gripping action arises from the 'fact Ythatit is occasionally necessaryto withdrawftlfie bar heing worked upon :from the machine. ,In .pushers in'which .the grippingaction is increasedby wedging means and the like .on ,the I"feeding stroke, it is necessary `to provdezmeans to pre vent the .wedgingor tight gripping y,action .when

`the bar is withdrawn. The provision of 1such `means in addition to the wedgingmeans not .only

increases thecost, and complexity ofxthe device,

lbut adds to the diiiiculty ofmaintaining it sufficiently compact fto permit the `same pusherv to 'handle all sizes of.stock 11p-to landincluding the maximum capacity o f the machine.

The principal object of this Ainvention is to obtain a one-way gripping 4action in a pusher by providinga.constantgripping -force active on the Yfeeding stroke, and .automatically .relieving or releasingthe force von theretracting stroke.

VOther objects .nare to Iarrange vthe .parts of the .pusher so .that itis capable of yhandling bar stock of a diameter upto land yincluding :the maximum capacity of the machine; to v-eliminate'fthe necessity iof holding the grip Avarying ,means Vout :of operationwhenfa'bar is withdrawniromthe machine; to :incorporate -a wedging :and Yabutment means between the shelland bushing :within the wall thickness of the shell and bushing; to -ar` range .an abutment means ifor `transmitting the retractingmovement :of A.the Ashell .to the 'bushing as a we'dging means 'to fexpand the bushing -orV shell, .or both, v:to relieve :orrelease :thegrippn the stock zduringthe rebracting ,.stroke; y"tear-- range said labutment andwedging means softhat it is' vreadily accessible :to facilitate `'the removal ofthe bushing 3f1rom:the.shel1; and generally'to simplify, reduce the :costand improve the etliciencyofrpushers o'frthis type.

in the accompanying drawing-which illustrates preferred embodiments of theinvention: v

Fig. 1 -is .a -side 4elevation of -alcomplete pusher embodying the'present-'invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionolva portionfof `the improved pusher, the View being-taken on ya plane "indicated `rby line f2-'2 rof Fig. jl;

Fig. '3 is r'a longitudinal section corresponding -toFig -2, but taken on la pla-ne perpendicular to the planeiirrdicated by the'line'jZ-of Fig. 1;;

Fig. 4 -is'across'section ofithe shell andbushlensth of the bushing Afrom its forward endto ing taken on a plane indicated by the line 4 4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross section of a fragmentary portion of the shell and bushing with the locking key positioned therein, the view being taken on a plane indicated by line 5--5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a similar cross section of a frage nientary portion of the shell and bushing taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a locking key;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a slightly modified shell and bushing showing the locking key positioned therein;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of a fragmentary portion of the shell and bushing of Fig. 8 showing the locking key partially removed therefrom; and

Fig. 10 is a cross section of a fragmentary por tion of the shell and bushing taken on line Ill-I Il of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawing, the pusher of the present invention embodies generally a pusher shell or the like in which may be secured a bushing of any desired size of internal opening and arranged to resiliently grip the bar of stock.

As shown in Figs, l through 7, the improved pusher comprises a shell I0 formed with longitudinal slots II extending inwardly from the forward end of the shell and terminating in apertures I2. The shell I0 may be formed integrally with the pusher tube, not shown, or the inner end I4 of the shell may be threaded for engagement with the pusher tube. The shell I0 is preferably slotted and the segments so formed are bent inwardly prior to the hardening thereof so that the shell will exert a spring pressure .upon a bushing engaging the stock.

Near the forward end of the shell, the slots II are widened to define key ways I6 for the reception of suitable locking keys. The shell lIIl is provided, intermediate the ends of the key ways I6, with' openings Il having a diameter greater than the width of the key ways.

A bushing I8, Fig. 3, is positioned Within the `outer end portion of the shell I0 and is provided with an external annular shoulder I9, intermediate its ends, for engaging the front edge of the shell to limit the movement of the bushing rearwardly into the shell. The bushing I8 is rendered resiliently expansible by a slot extending throughout its length. The bushing is arranged to be assembled in the shell with the slot 20 registering with one of the slots II in the shell.

The portions of the bushing I8 defining the edges of the slot 20 are provided with an external longitudinal recess 22 extending inwardly from the forward endof the bushing to a point in alinement with the inner ends of the key ways I6 formed in the shell I0 and having a width equal to that of the key ways I6. The bushing |18 is formed with an opening `23 intersecting the slot 20 and adapted to register with one of the openings I1 in the shell.4 Preferably, the bushing is also formed on the opposite side with a recess 22' which does not cut completely through the bushing wall and an opening 23', which registers with another slot II and opening I'l in the shell. v

Locking keys 25, Fig. 7, are arranged to fit within the key ways I6 in the shell and recesses 22 and 22 in the bushing, and are provided with wedge plugs 2'6. Each key 25 is formed with a reduced end portion 21 of a length equal to the the flange I 9, and sufficiently thin to seat within the recess 22 or 22' with its outer face substantially flush with the outer surface of the forward portion of the bushing. The remainder of the length of each key 25 is of suilicient thickness to seat in the recess 22 or 22 with its outer surface substantially flush with the outer surface of the shell IIl. The wedge plugs 26 have a height substantially equal to the combined thickness oi the walls of the shell I0 and bushing I8, and are arranged to extend through the openings Il in the shell and the alined openings 23 and 23' in the bushing. The diameter of the plugs 26 is' less than the diametar of the openings in the shell and bushing, and the inner ends of the keys 25 are spaced a short distance from the inner ends of the key ways I6 so as to permit the keys and plugs to have a slight longitudinal movement independent of the shell and bushing.

A spring collar or band 28 enclrcles the outer end 0f the bushing I 8 and overlies the reduced ends 21 of the keys 25 so as to retain the keys in the shell and bushing. The spring has its free ends 29 spaced apart a suflicient distance to permit it to be turned to release the keys.

In the use of the improved pusher, arranged as shown in Fig. l, the spring tension of the shell, bushing, and spring 28 combine to give the bushing a secure grip upon the stock S. Upon the forward movement of the pusher tube, which carries the shell ID, the forward edge of the shell engages the shoulder I9 and moves the bushing and stock through the collet or to the left as seen in Fig. l. Upon the rearward movement or re- .turn stroke of the pusher tube, the forward edges of the openings Il in the shell engage the plugs 26 and move the plugs against the rear edges of the openings 23 and 23' in the bushing. thus transmitting the rearward movement of the shell to the bushing through the plugs 26.

The frictional resistance of the bushing to rearward sliding movement over the stock, which has now been gripped by the collet, reacts through the plugs 26 and the edges of the openings engaging the plugs. openings Il in the shell, which merge into the slots II, act as wedging surfaces against the arcuate surface of the plugs 26, tending to spread the -slots II and relieve the gripping pressure exerted by the shell on the bushing. Similarly, the rear edges of the opening 22, which merge into the slot 20 in the bushing, act as wedging surfaces on one of the plugs 26 tending to open the slot 20 and relieve the gripping pressure of thebushing on the stock.

The forces available to spread the shell and bushing are components of the forces applied to the wedge plugs 26, so that equilibrium is reached when the spreading component of the resistance of the bushing to sliding movement on the stock equals the spring forces exerted by the shell and bushing tending to collapse the slots II and .20. These components may be varied by varying the shape of the Wedge plugs 26 and the openings I1 and 23 so that the friction of the bushing on the stock during the retracting stroke of the pusher may be reduced to any desired fraction of the friction on the advancing or feeding stroke. As illustrated, `the plugs and openings are substantialy circular for convenience in manufacture, and the wedging angle is determined by the angle made by the tangents of the openings at their points of intersection with the opposite edges of the slots. Increased spreading forces may be obtained with circular plugs and openings by The forward edges of the- .widening the sslots, aand further increase 1rnas'rbe obtained thy changing the iplugs andfopeningsito diamond orfovalfshape.

' Although I have ldisclosed :two roppositely nis- -posec'-keys '25 :and wedgesplugsiZS, ibothfactingto spreadthe slots |.v|:inthe shell :androne acting to spread :thexslot '22D 1in the bushing,dt'-.willheunder stood .fthat .only Ythe .one ikey1andplugfactingiln ,the .slots :in-y both .the bushing fand shell may ihe used Vif desired. Similarly :thesnumber and-locs tion 0f the slots `andy the number :of '.wedgegplugs cooperating:.therewithmay;bezvariedfaszdesired.

*Thus :the :pusher .normally exerts asconstant springtgripsonfthe stockiwhichfremainszunchanged during fthe :feeding stroke but :.whichszis meduced to any .desired degree .on 'Lthe zretracting stroke to lavoidfscoring or fmarring of ithe Astock .and excessive wear on the :engaging surfaces of zthe bushing. .Whenlit vnecessary to .remove sa aber from :the machine yit Acan be fwithdrawn :a t

straight r pull. or by slamming :the 'fbar and 41pusher tube rearwardly until theipusherttubetstrikes the spider, for other abutment, causing :the :bar .to slide :through the bushing :by :momentumV The zbushing. l B, illustrated herein, closes- .upon the .stock .by its own. Vresilience and fis :further urged 'toward thestock by the segments fol' the shell -l 0 :and `.the lspring kcollar S28. f'I-he .spring 28 :mayfbe selected to balance the `force exerted byv'the split -shell,. or'when .so desired zmayisupply additional; pressure `at the .forward zend :of .fthe bushing-to insure a good .grip 'of the .fstock vby the bushing. IHowever, ithe spring :28 may ibe employedmi'erely as l'a tretaining :ring :for the lkey 25. When theV stock is removed from the 1bushing the llkey fretains `the bushing i and shell .in their proper assembled relation yfor the yreception of anotherfpiece of stock. i

In the `modied form of -the .improved pusher 'shown inFigs..y SitoA 10, inclusive, ithe :several :parts thereof :are formed in the :same :manner `:as fdisclosed in Figs.` lito 6,.inclusive, .with theexception of .the portion .of .the .longitudinal'recess fpmvided in the outer end of the bushing. :Asishown in Figs. 8. and 9,.th'eouter portion of the longitudinal recess 32 terminates midway in the outer end of the bushing and the outer end of the longitudinal slot 30 in the bushing is enlarged to a width equal to that of the locking key 35.

With such an arrangement the bushing' and locking key 35 may be removed from the shell by simply 'inserting a suitable tool, such as a screw driver, between the spring collar 38 and locking key 35 and then moving the key as shown in Fig. 9. 'I'he key may be pried up a sulcient distance to permit the plug 36 to clear the opening in the shell, and the bushing and key may then be removed as a unit from the shell, without removing the key from its seat in the bushing.

It will be understood that the number. and arrangement of the locking keys and the number and arrangement of the slots which render the bushing and shell resilient may be varied if desired and likewise that the shape of the wedging elements can be varied'to reduce the gripping pressure on the return stroke in any desired manner. Many other modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pusher for feeding stock comprising a split shell, a collapsible bushing within the shell surrounding the stock to be fed, said shell being-arranged to resiliently contract upon the bushing, means for transmitting' movement of the shell in one ,direction etc :the bushing :to ieed-istock, .said means .-heing arraneedftoz-anplyno componentiof needing force .to expand .said shell, :wedging .meansito :transmitemovement .ofxfthe shell @in inthe other `direction to vthe .zbushinayfsaid wedging means :engaging :the :shell 1in .such :a :manner as toapplyfa component of :.the1force1to. expandsaid ksiiellianclreduce `the .grip :of uthe shell .upon =the bushing.

2. 5A apusher :for feeding .stock comprising .fa shell, .ia i collapsible bushing i .within ithe shell, said shell resiliently grippingsaid bushing 'to collapse .the isame iupon the stock rto :be vfed, iinterengagying means omsaidebushingandshelhto :transmit axial movement. of said shellztto,A saidzliushingfsaid means being constructed aand -farranged itu au- .tomatically ireduce @the .-:grip of `said A:shell on -said .bushing during axialfmovementin one. direction, :and tto :maintain :the grip .of :said fshell on .said

.bushing undiminished during faxialmovement .in thefotherdirection. r

:3..1A :pusher #for :feeding stockwcomprising la shell, :a ,bushing iwi-thin `the shell surrounding the stockfto .he fed, said bushing being arranged to resiliently contraetupon and grip .the .f stock; said .ishell being arranged 'to .resiliently .-,contract upon :the bushing to :increase Vthe rgrip Iof the bushing upon] the stock. interengagingymeans'on i'ed, saidibushing having anf-endportion projectr ing 'fromsaidlshell with an :abutment thereon engaging fthe end fof fthe rshell to transmit laxial movement of ythe :shell 4infone direction .'to the bushingfwithout diminishingtthe grip ofthe bushing @on i.tl'ie.stock, .and .means in `said shell and bushing for expandingk said 2 bushing upon :axial movement of the shell in the other direction.

5. A pusher comprising a shell, a bushing therein for resiliently engaging the stock to be fed, said bushing having an end portion projecting from said shell with an'abutment thereon engaging the end of the shell to transmit axial movement of the shell in one direction to the bushing without diminishing the grip of the bushlng on the stock, wedging means` positioned in said shell and bushing and arranged to expand said shell and bushing upon axial movement o! the shell in the other direction, and a spring collar on said end portion of the bushing forlocking said wedging means in said shell and bushing.

6. In a. pusher for automatic screw machines and the like, a resiliently expansible pusher shell, an expansible bushing disposedwithin the shell resiliently gripping the stock to be fed,-said shell compressing said bushing upon the stock. said shell and bushing having aligned openings there? in, a wedge plug loosely mounted in said openings, said Wedge plug expanding the bushing and shell upon axial movement of the shell in one direction to partially release the grip of the bushing upon the stock.

7. In a pusher for automatic screw machines and the like, a pusher shell having longitudinal :slots formed in" one end to denne spring segments.'i

a'split bushing positioned in the shell with the split therein registering with one of the slots in said shell, said bushing surrounding the stock to be fed and resiliently urged into engagement therewith by. the segments of the shell, a portion of the bushing projecting from the slotted end of the shell and having an axially extending key way therein, a key disposed in said way and in one of the slots in the shell, said key arranged to expand said bushing and segments to partially release the grip on the stock upon axial movement of the shell in onedirection. ,f 8. A pusher comprising a shell having longitudinal slots in one end defining resiliently expansible segments, a bushing having a` slot extending throughout its length partially disposed in said segments for resiliently gripping the stock to be fed, said bushing having the slotv therein alined with one of the slots in said shell, an external annular abutment on said bushing engaging the end of the shell and preventing axial movement of the shell in one direction relative to the bushing, said bushing and shell having their alined slots congured for the reception of a key to prevent axial movement of the shell in the other direction with respect to the bushing, said key being arranged to expand said shell and bushing to partially release the grip onthe stock during the axial movement in said other direction.

9. A pusher comprising a shell having diametrically disposed longitudinal slots in one end defining resilient expansible segments, a bushing having a slot extending throughout its length partially disposed in said segments for resiliently gripping the stock to be fed, said bushing having the slot therein alined with one of the slots in said shell, an external annular abutment on said bushing engaging the end of the shell and preventingaxial movement of the shell in one di@ 10. A pusher comprising a shell, a bushing partially within the shell and surrounding the "stock to be fed, said shell having an aperture tending therefrom and arranged to register with the aperture' in said shell, a key disposed within said slots andhaving a plug thereon positioned within'. said aperture to prevent axial movement of the shell withrespect to the bushing.

11.` A pusher comprising a shell, a bushing partially within the shell and surrounding the stock to be fed, said. shell having an aperture therein with opposed longitudinal slots extending therefrom, said bushing provided with. an aperture having opposed longitudinal slots extending therefrom and arranged to register withthe aperture in said shell, a key, a plug formed thereon, said plug positioned within said aperture with the key in said slots to expand said bushing upon the retraction of said shell.

y 12. A pusher for feeding stock comprising a resilient bushing surrounding and gripping the stock to be. fed, a shell surrounding and resiliently gripping the bushing and having means for moving said bushing in rone direction to feed stock, and means engaging said bushing intermediate its ends for moving said bushing in the opposite direction, said last-mentioned means being arranged to apply a component of its force to expand the leading end of said bushing. 13. A: pusher for feeding stock comprising a resilient vbushing surrounding and gripping the stock to be fed, a shell surrounding and resiliently gripping the bushing and having means rection relative to the bushing, said bushing and shell having their alined slots configured for the reception of a key to prevent axial movement of the shell in the other direction with respect to the bushing and a spring collar surrounding the free end of said bushing land engageahle---vvithl said key-for retaining said key in said coacting slots. v Y

for vmoving said bushing in one direction to feed stock under the full gripping force of said bushing and said shell and means engaging said bushing intermediate its ends for moving said bushing in the opposite direction, said last-mentioned'means being arranged to apply a component of its force to expand the leading end of said bushing.

f.v f STODDARD B. MARTIN. 

